P42: Why Finishing Something this Week Is Good For You

Welcome to Just One Pivot, Sunday’s pause to plan your next best move. If this was sent to you, subscribe to get your own copy next Sunday.

Hi! I have a challenge for you this week.

Before you say yes, let’s get into it.

Last week, I wrote about starting something. If you missed it, you can catch it here. This week, I want to flip the coin. Let’s talk the power of finishing something, the benefits, and how you can actually finish something this week and feel the difference for yourself.

Here’s what I know: finishing things is hard for all of us at some level. Why? Because starting new things is more exciting. Starting gives us that little hit of dopamine.

Grinding it out to the finish line, not so much. But here’s what we don’t realize: when we don’t finish, we’re constantly draining our mental and emotional resources. Psychologists call this the Zeigarnik Effect. Our brains hold onto unfinished tasks like open tabs on your computer, weighing us down until they’re closed.

A true story

I once tried to bring this same message to an old family friend who had to move seven times in just five years. Instead of packing only what she wanted to keep, she’d toss everything into boxes, and promise herself she’d sort it out later.

But “later” never came. A few boxes became dozens. Months turned into years. Years into decades. And every time she talked about starting a business, going back to school, or traveling, her excuse was always the same: “I just need to go through my boxes.” And when I offered my help, she declined. She couldn’t bring herself to finish a project that could have freed her mind in a few hours.

Her story is a a universal reminder: unfinished things, whether they’re literal boxes or lingering projects, don’t just take up space in our homes. They take up space in our minds, too. And until we finish them, they can stand in the way of our bigger dreams because not finishing can become a habit that bleeds into other areas of our lives.

Here’s the good news. When we develop the endurance to finish something, we unlock a double benefit: we clear mental space and we build confidence.

A common story.

This past Friday, I hosted a dinner for a few friends. Before long, we were laughing (and commiserating) about our shared experiences with ADHD-like tendencies. None of us have formal diagnoses, but we all knew the pattern: chasing shiny objects, starting multiple projects, leaving them unfinished.

One friend admitted that in her home, half-completed projects are scattered in every room. I shared my own struggle with hyperfocus, a double-edged sword.

Yes, you can lock in for hours without food, water, or breaks. But it’s not always true productivity. I once massaged a single paragraph for hours when I could have written 2,000 words. And worse: a habit of unchecked hyperfocus once landed me in a hospital bed when an infection turned septic without my notice, until it was almost too late.

Bottom line: finishing matters. But it doesn’t have to come at the expense of our health.

The Pivot Point: Finish Something

Here are three ways that have made finishing simpler and sustainable:

Break it down or let it go. Tackle smaller chunks of the project instead of the whole thing, giving each chunk a clear deadline. Momentum isn’t about perfection; it’s about continuous movement. And sometimes, momentum comes from letting go.

I once bought a pattern for a two-piece summer outfit and borrowed my sister’s sewing machine. After dozens of fabric and pattern pieces sat in my closet for months, I realized I neither cared enough to finish it nor wanted to. When I finally gifted the bag to a friend, it felt like a weight off my shoulders.

Use Full Focus cycles. My favorite: Full Focus (45 or 90 minutes) + Refuel (15 minutes) × 4. This is my personal spin on the Pomodoro Technique (traditionally 25 on, 5 off). That rhythm never worked for me. I’d barely hit flow before the timer rang. For me, forty-five or 90 minutes is long enough to dive deep, while 15 minutes is enough to hydrate, stretch, reset, walk around the block. Four rounds, and you’ve finished a focused workday.

Define the finish line. Decide in advance what “done” means. Is it sending the draft, painting the last stroke, or hitting publish? Clear criteria keeps you from endlessly tinkering.

When I was working on my doctoral program, I decided I would finish in less than four years. I mapped out four years on a spreadsheet: each column represented a semester, and each row represented a task—a course, a paper, a research project, a qualifying exam. Every time I completed a task, I turned that cell green. Each green square was a little celebration that gave me a dopamine boost. And when I saw that I was ahead of schedule, I got another.

I ended up finishing in three years. But even if it had taken me five, that still would have been better than most, since many doctoral students take longer or never finish at all.

The Shift

I used to have half-finished writing pieces in notebooks, folders, and Google documents, thinking one day I’d write a book or send out an article. Last year, I committed to focusing on my writing and using this system almost daily. The results this year alone? My most productive writing season ever. I’ve published 42 newsletter issues, two dozen articles, and relaunched my book Bridge Builders  on Medium—one chapter at a time—all without sacrificing my health.

Short full focus + reset cycles work, and the science backs it up: our brains naturally cycle through peaks of focus about every 90 minutes (these are called ultradian rhythms). When you align your work-rest rhythm with biology instead of fighting it, finishing becomes sustainable.

The Challenge

This week’s challenge is finish something.

Pick one project you’ve been circling. Block out four rounds of Full Focus + Refuel. At the end, notice the clarity, confidence, and satisfaction that come from crossing the finish line.

Do you accept? Hit reply and tell me what you’ll finish. I read and respond to every message.

It’s not about perfection. I have unproductive days and even a week here and there. But when you have a system to go back to, regaining momentum is easier and faster than we think.

Until next week,

P.S. Know someone who needs to hear this? Forward it to them.

P.S.S. The reading circle of my newly imagined Bridge Builders book is still underway. Click image below to catch up, and embark on a guided journey of inner transformation that will revolutionize the way you tackle your next hard thing.

Here are two ways to connect with me:

👉 On LinkedIn

👉 Book a free strategy consultation if you need some clarity for your next move.